Pencil pointer



Feb. 6, 1951 CAYO 2,540,320

PENCIL POINTER Filed March 22, 1949 INVENTOR. Edward L. Ca 0 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL POINTER EdwardL. Cayo, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Application March 22, 1949, Serial No. 82,770

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in the Pencil Pointer disclosedin my copending application for Pencil Sharpener, Serial No. 778,899,filed October 9, 1947.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a device for pointing the leads of pencils which doesnot require the use of gears or other complicated rotating parts.

Second, to provide a pencil pointer which will form an accurate sharpconical point on a pencil lead and which may be operated without fear ofbreaking the lead.

Third, to provide a pencil pointer'in which the abrading pressurebetween the pencil lead and the abrasive element is furnished by springloaded frictional sliding engagement between the abrasive carrier andthe base of the device.

Fourth, to provide a pencil pointer which is easily operated with onehand.

Fifth, to provide a pencil pointer which is inexpensive to manufactureand assemble.

Other objects and advantages relating to details of my invention will beapparent from a consideration of the following description and claims.The drawings, of which there is one sheet, illustrate a preferred formof my pointer.

1 is a vertical transverse cross sectional View through the pointerillustrating a pencil in one operative position therein and illustratinga second position of the pencil in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partially broken away in verticalcross section illustrating the pointer in another of its operativepositions.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view similar to Fig. 1illustrating the pointer adapted for use with mechanical type pencils.

Fig. 4 is 'a plan view of the pointer with the cover removed.

My pointer consists of a body member I which is preferably formed as acasting and which has a. relatively heavy base 2 so that the pointerwill hold its position on a table without being held by the user. Thebody member is provided with generally cylindrical side walls 3 whichform a central pocket 4, the bottom of which is finished in a-flatsmooth surface 5. The base 2 is tapped to receive the central post 6which projects upwardly through the center of the pocket. The post isprovided with a first shoulder l and a threadedportion 8 located justbelow the upper edge of the side walls 3. Above the threade'd'portion -8the post is further reduced to form a bearing's'ection 9 and the upperend of the post is further threaded at Ill and shouldered as at H.

,Positioned within the pocket 4 is a cup -like; abrasive-carrier l2preferably formed as "a'stamping from sheet metal. The side walls of thecarrier I 2 are downwardly and inwardly tapered, as illustrated, at anangle with the vertical corresponding to the angle of taper to be formedon a pencil point. The bottom wall of the carrier is apertured andflanged as at I3 so that the carrier will fit oscillatably over the post6. Preferably the bottom of the carrier is further upwardly ofiset orembossed as at [4 and a flat annular ring of soft material such asleather is interposed between the bottom of the carrier and the bottomsurface 5 of the pocket.

The cup-like carrier I2 is restrained against movement in the pocket bymeans of a coil spring [6 positioned around the post 6 and the flangeI3. The upper end of the spring It bears against a washer I! which inturn bears against a nut l8 engaged with the first threaded portion 8 onthe post. The compression of the spring compresses the soft leather ringbetween the bottom of the carrier and the bottom surface of the pocketand determines the frictional resistance to slid ing of the carrier onthe bottom of the pocket. Axially turned tips [GA on the ends of thespring engage the side of the nut and the bottom of the carrier toprevent rotation of the spring and carrier.

The top of the pocket 4 is closed by a dome shaped cover member [9 whichis also preferably formed as a casting. The cover l9is provided with" aninternal boss which is vertically bored and rotatably mounted on thebearing portion 9 of the post. The bottom of the boss is in thrustengagement with the top of the nut I8 as at 2| to fix the position ofthe cover vertically on the bearing 9. The rim of the cover i9 isprovided with a lip 22 rotatably received within the open end ofthe'pocket 4.

Radially disposed on the cover [9 with respect to the boss 20 is asecond boss 23 which projects upwardly above the cover anddownwardlybe-' low the inside of the cover. The inner end of the boss 23is downwardly and inwardly beveled as at 24 so that when the cover isplaced on the post 6 the beveled surface 24- will engage the rim of thecarrier l2 and slide the carrier radially of the post to the positionillustrated in Fig. l. The boss 23 is.vertically bored as at 25 toreceive a substantial portion of the end of a pencil. The bottom of thebore 25terminates within the boss 23 and a small central aperture 26 isformed between the bottom of the bore and the "beveled surface 24. Theaperture 26 is of such a size as to receive the lead 27 of a pencil 28inserted in the bore.

Preferably the apertureZE is of such size as to 3 snugly receive andsupport the standard size of leads used in drafting pencils and the boreis of such size as to snugly receive a common type of mechanicaldrafting pencil as illustrated at 28A in Fig. 3. In order to use thepointer with the older wooden pencils 28 I provide a grommet 29 whichfits into the top of the bore 25.

The inner wall of the carrier 12 is faced with a layer of abrasivematerial, such as sandpaper, as at 30 and in operation the user insertsthe pencil into the boss 23 with the lead 26 projecting downwardlyagainst the abrasive 39. The user then rotates the pencil and cover l9about the bearing 9 causing the lead 26 to move in a circular path aboutthe post 6. As the lead 26 moves in its circular path it engages anddraws the abrasive 30 and carrier I: with it in an orbital movement. Thefrictional drag between the carrier and the bottom of the pocket resiststhis orbital movement resulting in abrasive action between the lead andthe surface 30.

Attention is called to the fact that the user cannot apply any greaterpressure to the point of the lead than is furnished by the resistance ofthe carrier member to movement in the pocket body member forming acentral pocket open at the top and having a flat bottom, a post securedto said member and projecting upwardly in the .center of said pocket, acup shaped carrier havin downwardly and inwardly tapered side wallspositioned in said pocket, the bottom of said carrier having an apertureformed therein substantially larger than said post and positioned aroundsaid post, a nut threaded on an inter-' mediate portion of said post, acoil spring compressed between said nut and the bottom of said.

carrier to urge said carrier toward the bottom of said pocket, saidspring having lug engaging said nut and carrier against rotation, acover for said pocket rotatably mounted on the upper end of said post, aboss on said cover projecting from the top and bottom thereof andforming a vertical bore open at the top and radially positioned withrespectto said post, said bore being adapted to receive the end of apencil, an aperture connecting the center of said bore to the bottom ofsaid boss and adapted to pass and supportingly engage the lead of apencil, the mean radius of said carrier being less than the ladiuSOfrota-l tion of said aperture about saidpost, a facing of abrasivematerial on the inside of said carrier, and a friction washer positionedbetween the bottom of said carrier and the bottom surfac of said pocket,the bottom of said boss being sloped downwardly and inwardly of saidcover'and projecting below the rim of said carrier to cammingly engagethe top of said carrier and draw said carrier on center of said pin assaid cover is positioned on said post. 1

2. A pencil pointer comprising abody member forming a central pocketopen at the top, a post secured to said member and projecting upwardlyin the center of said pocket, a cup shaped carrier 4 having inclinedside walls positioned in said pocket, the bottom of said carrier havingan aperture formed therein substantially larger than said post andpositioned around said post, a projection around an intermediate portionof said post, a coil spring compressed between said projection and thebottom of said carrier to urge said carrier toward the bottom of saidpocket, a cover for said pocket rotatably mounted on the upper end ofsaid post and having thrust engagement with said projection, a boss onsaid cover forming a vertical bore radially positioned with respect tosaid post, an aperture connecting the center of the bottom of said boreto the bottom of said boss and adapted to pass the lead of a pencil, themean radius of said carrier being less than the radius of rotation ofsaid aperture about said post, a facing of abrasive material on theinside of said carrier, and a friction washer positioned between thebottom of said carrier and the bottom surface of said pocket, the bottomof said boss being sloped downwardly and in-. wardly of said cover andprojecting below the rim of said carrier to assure the off centerpositioning of said carrier relative to said post and in the directionof said boss by cammin engagement by the rim of said carrier and thesloping bottom of said boss in the event said carrier is not properlypositioned when said cover is placed on said body.

3. A pencil pointer comprising a body member adapted to rest on asupporting surface, said body member forming a pocket having a bottomwith a, flat surface, a post projecting upwardly within said pocket froma central portion ofsaid flat surface, a cup-like carrier member havingan opening in th bottom thereof substantially larger than said post andpositioned around said post with the bottom of said carrier memberfrictionally engaged with said flat surface, an abrasive facing on theinner surface of said carrier, and a pencil supporting member rotatablymounted on said post and having a pencil receiving bore radially spacedfrom said post, the radial dimension of said carrier member being lessthan the radial spacing of said bore from said post whereby a pencilpositioned in said supporting member and projecting into said carriermemben will impart oscillating motion to said, carrier: member when saidpencil and supportin member are rotated.

4. A pencil pointer comprising a body member, forming a pocket, acarrier member radially movably positioned in said pocket and having-5aslightly tapered generally cylindrical-innersur-. face open at the top,a facing of abrasive material on said surface, a pencil holder rotatablymounted on said body and adapted to hold'a pencil with th lead thereofprojecting against. said facing, the radial distance between said lead'and the center of rotation of said holder being; greater than the radialdimension of said abraa sive facing, and means engageable betweenzsaidcarrier member and said: body member to formly resist radial motion ofsaid carrier with respect to theaxis of rotation of said holder. rt

5. In a pencil pointer,'a base, a guide rotatablyl mounted on said baseand having a socket; adapted to receive a pencil to guide said pencil ina circular path with the pencil approximately parallel to its axis ofrotation, a carrier move able relative to said base and having aninterior" abrasive surface of revolution positioned to abradi inglyengage the lead of the pencil in said socket,

the radius of said abrasive surface being less than the radius 6frotation of said pencil whereby said lead imparts oscillatory movementto said carrier, and ineansacting on said earrier to unifornily andyieldably resist said oscillatory irioveiiient to provide ur'iiformabrading pressure between said lead and said surface. Y

6, A pencil pointer comprising a base having a chamber therein open atthe top, a post on said base and within said chamber, a pencil holderrotatably mounted on said post and provided with a pencil socketradially spaced,v from the axis of rotation of the holder to guideapencil disposed within the socket in a circular path, an abrasiveelement in said chamber slidably and nontiltably supported on the baseabout said post and provided with an interior annular conical abrasivesurface, a coiled spring disposed about said post with its upper end insupported thrust engagement with the post and its lower end in thrustengagement with said abrasive member, th diameter of said conicalabrasive surface of said abrasive member being less than the diameter ofsaid circular path of said pencil socket.

7. A pencil pointer comprising a base having a chamber therein open atthe top, a post fixedly positioned to project from the bottom of saidchamber, a pencil holder rotatably mounted on said post and constitutinga cover for said chamber and provided with a vertical pencil socketradially spaced from the axis of rotation of the holder to support andguide a pencil disposed within the socket in a circular path, adownwardly tapered cup-like abrasive element open at the top andslidably and nontiltably supported on the bottom of said chamber aboutsaid post and provided withabrasive on its inner side, a conical coiledspring disposed about said post with its smaller end upwardly and insupported thrust engagement with the post and its lower end in thrustengagement with said abrasive member, the diameter of said abrasivemember being less than the diameter of said circular path of said pencilsocket.

8. A pencil pointer comprising a body member having an upwardlyprojecting post thereon, an abrasive element of inverted truncatedconical shape mounted on said body member about said post for radialsliding movement relative to said post,- said abrasive element having aninternal abrasive surface, means for urging said abrasive elementagainst said body member while permitting radial frictienally slidingmovement thereof;

and a pencil holder rotatably iiiofunted on saidber, an abrasive elementmounted on said body member for frictionally resisting radial movement,said abrasive element having an interior annular conically taperedabrasive surface, and a rotatable pencil holder on said body providedwith a pencil socket traveling in a circular path when the pencil holderis rotated and adapted to hold a pencil with the lead thereof projectingagainst the conical abrasive surface of the abrasive element from thewide end thereof, the radius of rotation of the lead in the holderexceeding the radius of said abrasive surface at the area of contactbetween said lead and said abrasive surface.

EDWARD L. CAYO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 479,303 Price July 19, 1892492,336 Price Feb. 21, 1893 510,518 Price Dec. 12, 1893 1,770,062Blomgren July 8, 1930 2,146,288 De Lisle Feb. 7, 1939 2,188,130 Baier eta1. Jan. 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 240,813 SwedenJan. 21, 1946 745,309 France Feb. 14, 1933

